To think that being Anti Israeli is not the same as being Anti Semitic and to be horrified by the suggestion?!

[SoBloodyOffended]

A pro Palestinian group staged a large protest in my home town and it's currently being discussed on a local Facebook page. All was well until some women came wading in and accused the group of being "Anti Semitic" and then started accusing myself and other people who were speaking in favour of the protest of being "disgusting anti Semites".

I was slightly taken a back at this remark and replied that being opposed to the policies of Israel does not make someone an Anti Semite, but she wasn't having any of it. Apparently being Anti Israel is being Anti Semitic, and we should be ashamed of ourselves for daring to speak out against a group of people who've been "persecuted for centuries".

I'm horribly offended at this statement as anyone who knows me knows that there's not a racist bone in my body, furthermore myself and most of the people who were supporting the protest have been involved in campaigning against the BNP and other racist organisations. Yet apparently because we are appalled and upset about the actions of Israel this makes us anti Semitic!

WTF is she on? I'm fucking fuming!

So you've found a dumb arse 'conservative radio host' and decided he speaks for all Jewish people on the question of Israel?

It's like quoting Jeremy Kyle on Britain's role in Iraq.

I genuinely don't get why people keep posting links to extremists from all sides.

I'm really glad to hear that protest went well, somewhere safe. What a shame it didn't get more attention. Especially since we in the UK have a history with Nigeria and its a humanitarian cause. I'd have liked to attend.

I'm sure we are in agreement somewhere:
Criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitic.
Sometimes it is.

I would feel uncomfortable at a pro palestinian protest as I would expect that a fair amount might be anti semitic and some even wishing death and destruction to the israelis and i thinkyou are niave if you think otherwise. I don't blame palestinians for feeling this but I wouldn't want to be amoung them actively supporting them. I walked past a pro israeli group last week and wouldn't have joined them either.

A peace demonstration for both sides - yes.

Yes, there was a multi-cultural prayer for peace, I saw, which I considered going to, but as I'm an atheist, that seemed wrong.

There is absolutely no way I would want to stand shoulder to shoulder even with some of the people whose comments I've read on Mumsnet over this. No fucking way.

Well done. You've found examples of Jews calling Jews self-hating Jews. You've found a lot of diversity among Jews.

Just as I said, 2 Jews, 3 opinions. And?

What was the point of this? You want to demonstrate what again?

Dingalong - it does look as if Levin was rude about Stewart for changing his name rather than his Views on Israel. Similarly, if I changed my name from a Jewish sounding one to Fotherington-sky smythe people might reasonablly think I had a problem with being Jewish.....

*I don't think anyone claims that opposing the Israelis government is anti-semitic

I beg to differ. Even Jews that oppose the Israeli government are called something like self-loathing jews.*

So your point is that because a few far right loons call people self-loathing Jews, that none of the opposition to the Israeli Government we can currently see is anti-semitic?

I'm just amazed people would argue that.

"You state you weren't there but you know this ? How do you know this ?"

Unless you knew eveyone at the protest then you don't know either. If it was a pro palestinian protest open to all comers then yes I would imagine there would some who hate the israelis and wish them harm. If it was just uou and a few mates then fair enough. I have lived and worked beside palestinians. People who I liked and respected. Some openly denied the holocaust and hate the israelis and would happily see them all destroyed tohave their land back. I don't blame them and understand why they feel like this. So in a way a pro palestinian supports this as this is what many if probably most palestinians would want.

I would choose pro peace myself if I was demonstrating.

Even Jews that oppose the Israeli government are called something like self-loathing jews

You have shown me some twats who think like that, but this statement remains false. There are thousands of Jews both in Israel and elsewhere who oppose the current government and it is not general opinion that they are all self-loathing Jews. (Some might be!)
If it suits you to believe it though, carry on.

Dingalong - I'm not deaf - I said it wasn't connected to his views on Israel. There are people who are self-loathing Jews, and people are entitled to call them as such. Mira bar Hillel, for example, has admitted she doesn't like Jews very much. All I'm saying is that criticising Israel in measured terms doesn't make you a self hater.

Bambam the protests that have been held are exactly what you state you want. They are pro peace. That is the essence of the protests. Peace for both sides especially the side that is being murdered.

I wish more people would attend the protests instead of seeing them in 0 asking and deciding they are pro palestine or anti Jewish. There are actually very very few palestinians at the marches. Everyone there is marching for peace.

Rabid right extremism is on the increase in Israel.

The article above highlights that even asking for a ceasefire at the moment can have you branded as a 'disgrace to the state of Israel' by ministers in Israel.